Physiological Ecology and Regulation of N2 Fixation in Natural Waters

  • Hans W. Paerl
Chapter
Part of the Advances in Microbial Ecology book series (AMIE, volume 11)

Abstract

Biological nitrogen fixation, the enzyme (nitrogenase)-catalyzed process by which certain procaryotes reduce atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3), is of fundamental importance in mediating the availability of utilizable nitrogen in the biosphere (Delwiche, 1970; Carpenter and Capone, 1983; Howarth et al., 1988). This process is of particular relevance in ecosystems exhibiting deficiencies in nitrogen availability; in this regard, it is well established that geographically and trophically diverse freshwater lakes, rivers, and reservoirs as well as estuarine, coastal, and oceanic habitats exhibit chronic nitrogen deficiencies (Ryther and Dunstan, 1971; Eppley et al., 1973; Parsons et al., 1977; Mann, 1982; Goldman and Horne, 1983; Wetzel, 1983). Among these waters, newly formed combined nitrogen inputs attributable to N2 fixation may regulate productivity and fertility (Horne and Fogg, 1970; Horne and Viner, 1971; Horne and Goldman, 1972; Brezonik, 1973; Mague and Holm-Hansen, 1975; Wiebe et al., 1975; Lean et al., 1978; Paerl et al., 1981; Martinez et al., 1983).

Keywords

Acetylene Reduction Oxygenic Photosynthesis Experimental Lake Area Cyanobacterial Dominance Organic Matter Enrichment 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Plenum Press, New York 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • Hans W. Paerl
    • 1
  1. 1.Institute of Marine SciencesUniversity of North CarolinaChapel Hill, Morehead CityUSA

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